A New Life for the Nintendo 3DS

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Price drops, free games and some major software support may change the system's future.

By Richard George

Not even six months old, Nintendo's new 3DS portable has been struggling. Though certainly debuting to strong sales as Nintendo fans turned out to show their support, the 3DS quickly slowed down, even being bested by its predecessors and the aging Wii.

The lack of games didn't help. Outside of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, few releases have truly added anything significant to the system's library. Though undoubtedly more technically impressive than content from the DS, early 3DS software failed to impress. None of those games truly demonstrated the system's capabilities. The price certainly didn't help either.

In just three short months, things have been changing for the fledgling system, and today brought the biggest change yet. In the early hours of the morning, Nintendo announced some sweeping revisions to its 3DS strategy. The system will see a price drop effective August 12, cutting the price tag to $169.99 in the United States with similar cuts around the world. Existing customers will not be left in the dark or penalized for their early support, receiving 20 downloadable NES and Game Boy Advance games from the 3DS eShop.

It seems as though Nintendo is quietly acknowledging what many observers and fans have been saying for a while. The system simply isn't quite the value proposition that it should be. Here's a look at why the 3DS might finally be the system it was supposed to be – and a few challenges that still remain.

The Price Is Right

At $249 the Nintendo 3DS seemed mighty expensive. Several of Apple's iPod Touch and iPhone models check in at lower prices despite having more games, many of which were better looking. The PlayStation Vita, easily a more powerful piece of hardware, was going to launch with a starting price that was the same as Nintendo's system. Hardware isn't everything, but price is. No one expects to pay more for less, and that's exactly what Nintendo thought it could get away with, mostly on the back of the allure of glassless-3D gaming. Clearly that notion wasn't quite the selling point it was supposed to be.

Yet now things are different. By slashing over 30 percent off of the price tag, Nintendo is lining up its system in the right frame. Your iPod Touch might have more games, but they're shallow and you're going to pay more anyway. Vita? Same deal. Nintendo's greatest successes have come with systems that have cost less than the competition while offering great game experiences. Finally the 3DS is getting in line with that model.

The Firmware is There

When the 3DS launched, it had no eShop. Want to watch movies or surf the Internet? Don't bother. And forget about that original video content that was being promised. None of that was there. Effectively you were being asked to invest a great deal of money in something that didn't even have all the features it originally advertised. I understand that sometimes technical issues get in the way of launching software, but the fact is the 3DS needed its extra functionality. My iPhone not only plays games, but can play movies and music. I can also make phone calls, obviously. No one expects a dedicated game machine to do everything a smart phone can, but portable electronics must do more than one thing to stay competitive in today's market. That was missing.

In the three months since launch, Nintendo has rapidly added its promised applications. The eShop is here, complete with support for Game Boy, DSiWare and much more, including the apparent arrival of some NES and GBA games. Netflix is up and running. You have your Internet browser. Original video content has just been added. Bit by bit, the 3DS is able to play classic Nintendo games and plenty more.

The Big Guns are Almost Here

At the end of the day, you want games to play on your new system, right? For a brand new system, the 3DS has been a bit lacking in that category. No one really expects a system launch to be stellar, but it's hardly surprising to see the 3DS struggle when it really has no killer app. The best the portable has to offer is Ocarina of Time 3D, and while that is a true gem, most of us have played at least one of the game's incarnations over the past 13 years.

Fortunately you're not going to have to wait long. Star Fox 64 3D is just a few weeks away. Kid Icarus, Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 are just beyond that. Add in a few 2012 titles like Resident Evil Revelations, Luigi's Mansion 2 and Kingdom Hearts 3D and you're looking at a potent roster of iconic franchises.

And that's not everything. Plenty of other games are on the way, even a few strong offerings for the DS, which are playable on the 3DS. Kirby: Mass Attack. Tales of the Abyss. Sonic Generations. Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns. Heroes of Ruin. The list goes on, and it seems as though publishers are adding games every day. And none of this takes into account Nintendo's weekly eShop updates. If NES and GBA support does actually happen, as the "Ambassador Program" seems to suggest, there will be plenty more quality software to play.

There Are Still Questions

Just because the 3DS has a price cut, its intended functionality and a strong holiday line-up doesn't mean Nintendo can rest easy. Competitors like Apple and Sony won't be resting, and will certainly find incredible software and hardware revisions to strongly challenge the 3DS. I'll explore these ideas in a future article, but in short Nintendo needs to figure out what's going on with third party support. It's a bit troubling to see titles like Mega Man Legends 3 and Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy cancelled so early in the system's life cycle. That's not necessarily Nintendo's fault, but it needs to aggressively court its partners and ensure the right content arrives on its platforms.

Nintendo also needs to prove the potential of its own system, both in original properties and original gameplay. Where is this generation's Brain Age? Where is the title that proves 3D can change the way we see games? That content needs to materialize.

Lastly, Nintendo needs to understand this hardware model was lacking. The design, though interesting, ultimately was a step back from the DS Lite and DSi. It looks more like a toy, calling back my first impressions of the original DS – and that's not a good thing. The less I say about the battery the better, and it'd be great if the buttons didn't feel so cheap. We all know some sort of "3DS Lite" is coming. It's inevitable. Nintendo needs to get that design right.

Nintendo's adjustments over the past three months have gone a long way in not only restoring the 3DS to its original promise, but creating an even better value for those of us looking for gaming on the go. That's not to say the publisher will see immediate success. A price drop doesn't instantly make a console a success. If consumers perceive no value in the system's built-in and external software, no amount of price cuts will make a difference. Still, for the time being, the 3DS is looking at a new lease on life.

What do you think? Is the 3DS in a reasonable market position now? If you own the system, do you think the upcoming lineup of games is strong enough? If you don't own a 3DS, will the new price convince you to invest? Are you worried about third party support? Chat away in the comments below.